Australia is full of Big Things – the big Big Pheasant at Gumbuya in Gippsland, the Giant Koala at Dadswells Bridge in the Western District, The Giant Worm in Bass, the Big Merino in Goulburn, the Big Pineapple in Queensland, and the list goes on…
The latest addition is the Big Rainbow, installed at Circular Quay in Sydney as a backdrop for Maredi Gras dance parties. But the Circular Quay installation was temporary and the Big Rainbow is searching for a permanent home in regional Australia.
And Daylesford has an opportunity to be that permanent home. What better place?
Of more than 150 Big Things across Australia, the Big Rainbow is the first landmark to celebrate our vibrant and widespread regional LGBTQIA+ community. The project has been funded by dating app, Tinder. Tinder is also donating $100,000 to community organisations working for regional LGBTQIA+ representation, diversity and inclusion. Tinder will be announcing the full list of Australian organisations to receive funding along with the final home for the Big Rainbow landmark in the near future.
Tinder designed the Big Rainbow in collaboration with members of the LGBTQIA+ community and the First Nations Australian community. The landmark is inspired by the 2018 Progress Pride Flag, originally designed by non-binary artist Daniel Quasar. It aims to represent and celebrate the broad spectrum of our LGBTQIA+ communities in Australia and is emerging from the earth, recognising the Traditional Owners of the land on which our communities live and love.
Daylesford is one of only four towns across Australia that has been shortlisted to be the home of the Big Rainbow. It would be a landmark celebrating regional LGBTQIA+ pride and inclusion, something Daylesford and our region is known for. Other towns in consideration include Hay NSW, Broome WA and Katherine NT.
Council is supportive of the project although no potential site has yet been identified. The costs associated with transport, installation and maintenance have not been identified.
One of the factors in a final decision about location will be a popular community vote. If you would like this landmark to land in Daylesford, you can vote online to show your support.
And if you don’t want it to come to Daylesford, get online and vote for Broome.
